Sprinkler-head



A. C. ROWLEY.

SPRINKLER HEAD.

APPLICATION FILED IULY 31 ms.

A TTORNEYS Patented Aug. 8, 1916. Egg. 6'?

INVENTOR WITNESSGS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR C. ROWLEY, F OINOINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 GLOBE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SPRINKLER-HEAD.

1 193 619. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug; 8, 1916 Application filed July 31, 1915. Serial No. 42,867.

To allo /tom it may concern: and substantially instantaneously separated Be it known that I, ARTHUR C. RowLnY, upon the elevation of the surrounding tem a citizen of the United States, and a resiperature to the critical point of the fusible dent of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilmaterial,

5 ton and State of Ohio, have invented certain A further object of my invention is t new and useful Improvements in Sprinklerprovide Heads. of which the following is a specificathe normal strain or stress upon the fusible tion, reference being had to the accompanymaterial will be reduced to a minimum, to

ing drawing. the end that while the requisite heavy pres- 10 My improvement relates to sprinkler sure may be exerted upon the cap to retain heads, and more especially to the means emit tightly upon the mouth of the fluid outployed to maintain certain of the operative let, the strain or tension upon the fusible parts of the head in normal position, and material which serves to maintain the sevto instantaneously release such part or parts eral members in normal position shall be 15 to permit water or other fluid to issue from relatively very small. the head when the temperature in the vi- A still further object of my invention is cin ity thereof reaches a given critical point. to utilize the tension set up in certain por- 20 the cap or other means which serves to close and the necessary pressure exerted upon the pressure of the fluid on the under side various members when the critical temperathereof for long periods of time without any ture of the fusible material is reached.

25 relative shifting or creeping of the several Still further objects of my invention are parts, whereby the pressure on the cap might to provide a link or device having the forebe relaxed to cause a leakage from beneath going characteristics which may be readil t e cap, and further that, upon the critical and cheaply constructed, and in which the temperature being reached in the vicinity of various parts, if desired, may be pressed or 80 the head, the device shall serve. to instantly stamped from sheet metal in order to refree the cap to permit the fluid to freely duce the manufacturing cost as far as posissue from the outlet. As it is necessary to sible, and in which, owing to improper ad- 85 tion, it is most desirable to relieve the strain the elastic limit of the several parts can metal due to its inherent nature tends to y invention further includes all of the creep under heavy strain or compression other variousnovel' objects and features of and thereby permit the parts to relatively construction and arrangement hereinafter 4o shift thus relieving the pressure on the cap more definitely specified. 96

and resulting in leakage, as Well as in an In the accompanying drawing, in Figs. improper operation of the device in case 1 to 5 inclusive, is illustrated a preferred of fire. embodiment of my invention, Fig. 1 bein A principal object of my invention is to a side elevation thereof in operative osi- 46 provide a device of the nature of those gention upon a sprinkler head, a. portion 0 the 100 et cap or other equivalent structure of a Fig. 3, a front elevation of this form of sprinkler head in normal position for an the invention removed from its accompany- 50 indefinite period of time without creeping ing sprinkler head; Fig. 4, a similar rear of the fusible metal employed to keep the elevation thereof, and Fig. 5, a fragmentary parts in normal relation, and without any erspective view of certain of the parts. In igs. 6 and 7,8 and 9, 10 and 11 and 12 rewhich it is composed, and in which the varipectively, are illustrated slightly modified 55 ous memoers shall a positively, forcibly forms of the invention, Fig. 6, being a side no one of these forms removed head, and Fig. 7 a perspective view of a detail thereof; Fig. 8

being a side elevation partly in central vertical section of another slightly modified form, and Fig. 9 a perspective view of a detail thereof; and Fig. bein a side elevation of a still further slight y modified form, with Fig. 11 showing fragmentar 10 perspective views of certain details thereo Fig. 12 is a view in side elevation showing another slightly modified form.

Referring now to the drawing and more especially to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the same is shown in combination wit the usual sprinkler head 1, having a pair of lateral upwardly extending and outwardly bowed arms, 2 and 3 forming a yoke in the wellknown manner, a portion of the arm 3 being broken away in Fig. 1 for the sake of clear- The usual pressure screw 5 preferably provided with a rounded point extends vertically downward through a boss 6 formed at the upper extremity of the yoke in the usual manner, the upper end of the screw preferably carrying a suitable outwardly extending deflector 8 adapted to distribute the water when projected forcibly against its under side. The body of the sprinkler head is provided with a suitable liquid passage 10, the mouth of which is arranged to be normally closed by a suitable cap 12 which may be of any desired form, adapted under pressure exerted vertically downward upon the cap to form a liquid tight closure for the passage in the well-known manner.

The device for maintaining the cap normally in closed position, and which for convenience I shall hereinafter refer to as the link to conform with the ordinary terminology of the, art although, in fact, the device partakes more of the nature of a strut or toggle than a true link, comprises a plurality of members, hereinafter more specifically described, preferably four in number, two or more of which, however, are normally united by fusible material to form a single unitary structure, hereinafter referred to as the tie member, the other members being respectively referred to as the lever member and the stirrup or compression member 15, the latter comprising an outwardly turned toe 16, and a suitable substantially longitudinally extending aperture, the upper edges of the plate from which the stirrup is formed being directed inwardly as at 18, to reduce the upper extremity of the plate to a width preferably about one-half that of its central portion, the upper extremity being also preferably suitably beveled to partially reduce its thickness to form a lunt knife edge bearing 20. The toe 16 is turned forwardly substantially at right angles to the 65 body of the stirrup, and is provided on its engagement with an upwardly pro]ect1n lug or boss 22 formed on the cap 12 and pre erably axially thereof, as Fig. 2. I

The lever member may comprise a su stantially horizontally extending arm 26 having a transverse groove 27 on its upper face adjacent its outer extremity, and a suitable depression 28 also on its upper side adjacent its opposite end adapted for the reception of the point of the screw 5. xtending downwardly from the under side of the arm 26 and between the groove 27 an depression 28, but preferably nearer the latter than the former, is located a depending portion or strut 29 preferably formed integral with the arm 26 from a single piece of metal by doubling the same back upon itself adjacent the aperture 28 and then bending the strut downwardly substantially at right angles to the arm. If desired, however, the strut may be formed in any ot er suitable manner, as for instance, separately from the arm 26 as shown in Fig. 12, and thereafter suitably secured thereto. The lower end 0 the strut may preferably be turned slightly forwardly and beveled to form a blunt knife edge 31, and a suitable transverse groove 33 may be formed in the metal adjacent the point at which the strut is turned downwardly from the arm an adjacent the forward side of the strut. It will be understood that the width of the arm and of the strut is preferably slightly less than the width of the aperture 17 in the stirrup, and that the length of the blunt knife edge 20 formed at the upper extremity of the stirrup may preferably be substantially equal to the width of the arm.

The tie member which is adapted to assist in maintaining the various parts of the link in normal operative position when assembled in conjunction with a sprinkler head, may comprise a member 36 in width substantially equal to the arm 26 and having adjacent its lower end a suitable outwardly and downwardly turned hook 38, the under side of which is adapted to engage the lower edge of the aperture 17 in the stirrup 15 with the bill of the hook depending over the forward side of the stirrup and the main portion 0 the member 36 extending upwardly in angular relation with the rear face of the stirrup. face of the member 36 and adjacent the point where it is bent to form depression or groove 39 may suitable for the reception of the blunt knife edge 31 upon the strut 29 in order to give the latter a slight bearing upon the surface of the member 36. A member 40 having a body preferably of channel section is also provided, the width of the interior of the channel b ing preferably substantially that of the member 36 in order that the upper end of the latter may be embraced within the channel when the parts are assembled to form the tie member, and comprising at one end an integral angularly projecting yoke 42 havi a referably rectangular aperture 43 suitab e or engagement over the outer end of the lever arm 26. The angle of inclination of the yoke 42 to the body of the member 40 is preferably such that when the various parts of the link are assembled, as shown in Fig. 1, the yoke will .project substantially vertically upward.

e members 36 and 40 are secured in fixed normal relation by suitable fusible metal or solder 45 and for the purpose of to some extent relieving the strain thereon and also to assist in centering the members and determining their proper relation when they are being soldered together, as hereinafter described, suitable devices are preferably provided comprising in'the preferred embodiment of the invention, an upwardl struck lug 47 formed in the bottom of t e channel portion of the member 40 and a cor responding depression 48 formedon the under side of the end of the member 36, the upper face of the la and the top of the depression bein pre erably correspondingly inclined and t e ends of the depression and lug squared or otherwise so formed that when the parts are in assembled relation, the lug will engage within the depression and assist in preventing the longitudinal separation of the members. If desired, however, other suitable means may be employed to accomplish the purposes for which the lug and depression are intended, or such means may be entirely omitted and the fusible metal alone relied on to maintain the members in normal relation, certain of these modified constructions being hereinafter described.

The various parts of the link and of the sprinkler head proper having been constructed preferably substantially as hereinbefore described, the members 36 and 40 which together comprise the tie member may be united by suitable solder or other fusible metal 45, the lug 47 being suitably engaged within the depression 48 for this purpose, in which position the u wardly turned flanges formin the channe ed portion of member 40 wil embrace the sides of member 36. The cap 12' may then be positioned over the outlet 10 and the various parts of the link assembled in any suitable and convenient manner to assume the posi 'tion shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the depression 21 in toe 16 of stirrup 15 engages lug 22 upon cap 12, knife edge 20 at the upper end of the stirrup bears in the depression or groove 33 ad acent the upper nd of strut 29, knife edge 31 at the lower end of the strut bears within groove 39 upon the mouth of the outlet.

It will thus be evident that by rotating the screw downwardly a very heavy pressure can be brought to hear at. the point of the screw, which is preferably in exact vertical alinement with the lug 22 on the cap 12, and that this pressure will in turn be communicated to the cap through the medium of the stirrup 15. However, owing to the fact that the parts are so arranged and adjusted that the stirrup assumes a position in slightly angular relation with the axial line embracing the point of screw 5 andthe lug 22, the upper end of the stirrup will constantly tend to depart farther fromthis, line, which tendency however, may be counteracted by'a relatively slight pressure exerted on the outer end of; arm 26. In consequence, the pull exerted' by lever. 26. on the yoke 42, and thence communicated to the solder 45, is greatly disproportionate to the pressure upon cap 12, so that even though the screw 5 be adjusted to force the cap against its seat with great power, the parts may be maintained in normal assembled relation without excessive strain upon the fusible metal, said metal being further relieved by the engagement of lug 47 in depression 48 if these elements be employed which assists in preventing longitudinal separation of members 36 and 40, so that, in fact, the duty of the fusible metal is reduced substantially to that of merely uniting said members in assembled relation. However, the moment the critical temperature is reached in the vicinity of the sprinkler head and the fusible metal melts, the slight tension exerted upon the end of the arm 26 is immediately relieved to permit the stirrup to move farther away from the central axial line of the head, and in practice, it is found that this action results almost instantaneously, the various members composing the link structure being violently thrown away from the head proper and the cap 12 itself being also blown oil It is believed, moreover, that the rapid and forcible separation of the several members of the link is assisted by the sudden contraction of the yoke arms 2 and 3 of the sprinkler head, for, owing to the relatively enormous pressure exerted upon the cap 12, the arms are placed normally under a corresponding strain, which, when suddenly relieved, permits the arms to contract, an action which greatly assists in the instantaneous se aration of the link members and their forcible projection away from the head proper.

It will thus be evident, owing to the very slight normal tension upon the solder or other fusible metal, that substantially all chance of a creeping action occurring between the members 36 and 40 is avoided, and that in the preferred construction the liability of such action is still further negatived by the engagement of the lug 47 within the depression 48 which tends to prevent the separation of the members 36 and 40 in a longitudinal direction, but does not interfere with their instantaneous separation when the strain on the link is relieved under normal conditions by the fusing of the fusible material. as hereinbefore described, and furthermore, that owing to the instantaneous forcible movement of the parts away from the sprinkler head when the metal fuses, the possibility of water striking the fusible material and causing the same to set or harden before the link is entirely disassembled and the cap blown ofi' of the outlet is avoided, the action of the link being positive, substantially instantaneous, and absolutely certain under all conditions encountered in practice, and that owing to the mechanical arrangement of the several members of the link it is impossible, or practically impossible to exert suliicient pressure by means of screw 5 to strain any part beyond its elastic limit.

In Figs. (5 and 7 is shown a slightly modified form of the device in which the lug l7 and corresponding depression 48 in the members 40 and 36, respectively. are omitted, the fusible metal alone being relied upon to prevent longitudinal movement of creeping of the members which it serves to unite during the normal operation of the link. In this form of the device the other various parts are preferably constructed substantially similarly to the corresponding parts of that embodiment of the invention hereinbefore described.

In Figs. 8 and 9 another slightly modified form of the device is illustrated, in which the outer end of the arm 26 is turned downwardly to form an abutment 60 and a suitable stop 62 is provided and arranged to fit beneath the arm as adjacent the abutment 60. the inner end (33 of the stop being directed angularly downward to assume substantially the direction of member 65 which corresponds to member 36 in the form of the device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. The other various members of this form of the device are preferably substantially similar to the corresponding members illustrated in said figures, except that the member 65 is not provided with any depression, but is arranged to engage between the upper surface of portion 63 of stop 62 and the under side of the arm 26, the stop and the end of the member 65 being secured beneath the end of the arm 26 by the fusible material 45, so that until the fusing thereof the various parts will be held in properly assembled position, and upon the melting -of the solder will be forced apart substantlally in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 the various parts may preferably be made substantially in correspondence with the various parts illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, except that instead of lug 47 being provided in member 40 and depression 48 in member 36, a plurality of struck-up knobs on member 40 and corresponding depressions 72 on member 36 are provided. the engagement of knobs 70 in depressions 72 serving to prevent the longitudinal separation of members 36 and 40, and relieving the, strain upon the fusible material but without preventing instantaneous separation of the parts when the metal is fused.

While I have herein described several forms of my invention with considerable particularity, I do not desire or intend thereby to limit myself specifically thereto, as it will be evident that various changes and modifications may be made in the various features of construction and arrangement of the several parts, and that the members of the link proper may be modified so as to adapt them for use with varying forms of sprinkler heads, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. In combination with an automatic sprinkler head having outlet closing means, a link operative to maintain said means in position, said link comprising a compression member, a lever member bearing thereon and extending substantially at right angles therewith provided with a downwardly depending strut, a tie member engaging said compression member and said lever member and forming a bearing for said strut, and means operative to exert pressure on said lever member without the plane of said compression member to force said compression member against said out let closing means.

2. In combination With a sprinkler head having an outlet, a cap oper. tive to close said outlet, a compression member, a lever member having a strut and bearing on said compression member and extending on opposite sides thereof, a tie member engaging one end of said lever member and bearing on said compression member and forming a bearing for said strut, and a pressure screw adapted to bear adjacent the other end of said lever member and to exert pressure thereon Without the plane of said compression member.

3. In combination with a sprinkler head having outlet closing means and a pressure screw, a link comprlsing a plurality of coacting members, one of said members bearing upon said outlet closing means and having its major portion angularly ofi'set from the axial line of said screw, a second of said members contacting with said first-mentioned member and with said screw, and having a depending strut and a third of said members comprising a plurality of parts normally united by fusible material and operative to normally engage both of said other members and to support said strut to maintain all of said members in assembled position until the fusing of said fusible material.

4. The combination with a sprinkler head having a fluid outlet a pressure screw and means to cover said outlet, of means to normally hold said outlet covering means in position adjacent said outlet, said means comprising'a stirrup shaped member, a lever member fulcrumed on said stirrup-shaped member having a strut and adapted to be engaged adjacent one of its ends by said screw, and a tie member comprising a plurality of separable parts normally united by fusible material, one of said parts having a hook engaging said stirrup and the other of said parts engaging the other end oi said lever to normally restrain the movement thereof against the pressure of said screw, said tie member having{a bearing for said strut adjacent said hoo 5. The combination with a sprinkler head having a fluid outlet a cap operative to close said outlet and a pressure screw, of means operative to normally maintain said cap adjaoent, said outlet, said means comprislng a lever member having a strut extending substantially at right angles therefrom, the end of said lever more nearly adjacent said strut being adapted for engagement with said screw, a stirrup member operative to engage said cap and having an aperture, said lever being fulcrumed upon said stirrup member and a separable tie member operative to engage the other end of said lever member and to engage an edge of said aperture, the upper face of said tie member aifordinga bearing for the end of said strut.

6. A fusible link for a sprinkler head comprising a substantially horizontally extending lever member having a strut projecting substantially normal thereto, a stirrup membar, and a separable tie member having a hook adjacent one end adapted to engage said stirrup member and means adjacent its other end to engage said lever member, the outer end of said strut being arranged to bear on said tie member and the upper end of said stirrup to bear adjacent the base of said strut.

7. An outlet cap retaining device for a sprinnkler head comprising a stirrup shaped member adapted to engage a cap, a lever member comprising a projecting strut and a bearing for the end of said stirrup shaped member adjacent the base of said strut, and a tie member operative to engage the end of said lever member farthest from said strut and to engage said stirrup member, said tie member comprising a bearing for the end of said strut adjacent its point of engagement with said stirrup shaped memher.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 26th da of July, A. D., 1915.

ART UR C. ROWLEY.

3. In combination with a sprinkler head having outlet closing means and a pressure Corrections in Letters Patent No.1,193,619.

screw, a link comprising a plurality of coacting members, one of said members bearing upon said outlet closing means and having its major portion) angularly ofi'set from the axial line of said screw, a second of said members contacting with said first-mentioned member and with said screw, and having a depending strut and a third of said members comprising a plurality of parts normally united by fusible material and operative to normally engage both of said other members and to support said strut to maintain all of said members in assembled position until the fusing of said fusible material.

4. The combination with afsprinkler head having a fluid outlet a pressure screw and means to cover said outlet, of means to normally hold said outlet covering means in position adjacent said outlet, said means comprising'a stirrup shaped member,ia lever member fulcrumed on. said stirrup-shaped member having a strut and adapted to be engaged adjacent one of its ends by said screw, and a tie member comprising a plurality of separable parts normally united by fusible material, one of said parts having ahook engaging said stirrup and the other of said parts engaging the other end of said lever to normally restrain the movement thereof against the pressure of said screw,

' said tie member having a bearing for said I the Patent Ofiice.

in "Sprinkler-Heads, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction Signed and sealed this 19th day of September, A'..D.,1916.

lever member having a strut extending substantially at right angles therefrom, the

end of said lever more nearly adjacent said strut being adapted for engagement with said screw,. a stirrup member operative to engage said cap and having an aperture, said lever being fulcrumed upon said stirrup member and a separable tie member operative to engage the other end of said lever member and to engage an edge of said aperture, the upper face of said tie member afi'ording'a bearing for the end of said strut.

6. A fusible link for a sprinkler head comprising a substantially horizontally extending lever member having a strut projecting substantially normal thereto, a stirrup memher, and a separable tie member having a I hook adjacent one end adapted to engage bear on said tie member and the upper end of said stirrup to bear adjacent the base of said strut.

7. An outlet cap retaining device for a sprinnkler head comprising a stirrup shaped member adaptedto engage a cap, a lever member comprising a projecting strut and a bearing for the end of said stirrup shaped member adjacent the base of said strut, and a tie member operative to engage the end of said lever member farthest from said strut and to engage said stirrup member, said tie member comprising a bearing for the end of said strut adjacent its point of engagement with said stirrup shaped memher.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of July, A. D., 1915.

- ARTHUR C. ROWLEY.

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No, 1,193,619, granted August 8, 1916 r v v upon the application of Arthur C. Rowley, of Cincinnati, Ohio, for an improvement as follows: Page 2, line 3:4, after the word under insert the word suitable; page 4, line 36, for the word of, first occurrence, read page 5, line 13, claim 3, strike out the word normally; same page I and claim, line 15, before the word maintain, insert the word normally; same page, line 66,claim 7, for the word u prinnkler read sprinkler; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in r. w. H. CLAY, Acting Commissioner o f Paunta.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,193,619, granted August 8, 1916 upon the application of Arthur C. Rowley, of Cincinnati, Ohio, for an improvement in Sprinkler-Heads, errors appear in the printed specificetion requiring correction asfollows: Page 2, line 3:4, after the Word "under insert the word suitable; page 4, line 36, for the word of, first occurrence, read or; page 5, line 13, claim 3, strike out the word normally; same page and claim, line 15, before the word maintain" insert the word molly; same page, line 66, claim 7, for the word sprinnkler read sprinkler; and that the said Letters Patent should read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of September, A..D., 1916.

[sun] F. W. H. CLAY,

Adi aomminiomr of Patents. 01. 169-5. M r 

